diff --git a/src/evdev-tablet.c b/src/evdev-tablet.c
index 09bb454f..e87d2522 100644
--- a/src/evdev-tablet.c
+++ b/src/evdev-tablet.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ tablet_update_tool(struct tablet_dispatch *tablet,
 }
 
 static inline double
-normalize_pressure(const struct input_absinfo * absinfo) {
+normalize_pressure_or_dist(const struct input_absinfo * absinfo) {
 	double range = absinfo->maximum - absinfo->minimum + 1;
 	double value = (absinfo->value + absinfo->minimum) / range;
 
@@ -145,10 +145,8 @@ tablet_check_notify_axes(struct tablet_dispatch *tablet,
 							      absinfo->value);
 			break;
 		case LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_DISTANCE:
-			tablet->axes[a] = absinfo->value;
-			break;
 		case LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_PRESSURE:
-			tablet->axes[a] = normalize_pressure(absinfo);
+			tablet->axes[a] = normalize_pressure_or_dist(absinfo);
 			break;
 		case LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_TILT_VERTICAL:
 		case LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_TILT_HORIZONTAL:
diff --git a/src/libinput.h b/src/libinput.h
index ada68296..0a914569 100644
--- a/src/libinput.h
+++ b/src/libinput.h
@@ -866,8 +866,8 @@ libinput_event_tablet_axis_has_changed(struct libinput_event_tablet *event,
  *   tablet. Use libinput_event_tablet_get_x_transformed() and
  *   libinput_event_tablet_get_y_transformed() for transforming each
  *   respective axis value.
- * - @ref LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_DISTANCE - Approximately how many millimeters
- *   away from the tablet's sensor the tool is
+ * - @ref LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_DISTANCE - The distance from the tablet's
+ *   sensor, normalized from 0 to 1
  * - @ref LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_PRESSURE - The current pressure being applied on
  *   the tool in use, normalized from 0 to 1
  * - @ref LIBINPUT_TABLET_AXIS_TILT_VERTICAL and @ref